Donovan reminds Gators how important rebounding will be despite roster of shooters
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 | Men's Basketball, Soccer, Scott Carter
The Gators' shooting performance in their 114-57 exhibition win over Catholic University last week was one of those attention grabbers that make you look twice at the box score.
Florida hit 20 of 40 three-pointers, scoring more than half its points from long distance.
If the Gators shoot like that most nights, head coach Billy Donovan might want to go ahead and book rooms for the Final Four. But Donovan has been around way too long to fall head over heels that quickly.
The day after the Gators lit up the scoreboard against Catholic, Donovan shifted the focus to doing what you have to do when shots don't fall: grab rebounds. That is an area Donovan is stressing before the Gators hit the court on Friday in the season opener against Jackson State.
“They were a little taken back and surprised with practice on Friday because I said to them, 'Let's take the 20 threes we made out of the game. Let's look at it without that – us defensively and rebounding-wise,' '' Donovan said Tuesday. “When you shoot the ball well, it cures a multitude of sins. But when you don't shoot the ball well, sometimes those things are a lot more exposed.''
With a lineup heavy on guards and lacking great size underneath, the Gators will rely on their outside shooting to be successful. But like guard Erving Walker said after Thursday's win, you can't expect to hit 20 three-pointers every game.
With a lack of size that isn't going to change overnight, Donovan and his staff are stressing rebounding technique. That includes lessons on spacing, positioning and being around the ball when it comes off the rim.
The message seems to be hitting home with the Gators.
“This team has a good confidence about it. Not arrogance but just confidence,'' Walker said. “We feel like we can be a special team. Guys see that, listen to coach, and I think this is one of the hardest working teams I've been on since I've been here.”
But they must rebound, something they did well the past two seasons with the frontcourt trio of Alex Tyus, Chandler Parsons and Vernon Macklin doing most of the dirty work. They are now gone and Donovan is constantly reminding players like Patric Young and Erik Murphy that someone else has to pick up the slack.
“The last two years, we always gave ourselves a chance because we were able to rebound the ball,'' Donovan said. “When you have a good shooting team, that part of it can get lost.''
